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RIP Joe Gilliam Sr.

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by Drip, Nov 15, 2012.

  1. Drip

    Drip Active Member

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Joe Gilliam Sr., who coached Tennessee State football as an assistant or head coach during four decades, has died. He was 89.

    The university's sports website reported Gilliam's death. The Tennessean said he died Wednesday and was a resident of Trevecca Nursing Home in Nashville.

    He was an assistant to John Merritt beginning in 1963 and was defensive coordinator into the 1980s. He became head coach in 1989 and stayed for four seasons, compiling a 20-23 record.

    Gilliam was inducted into the Tennessee State Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.
     
  2. Drip

    Drip Active Member

    He was a helluva coach. Began his collegiate playing career at Indiana University before transferring to West Virginia State University, where he was an All-American at quarterback.
    Gilliam was head football and basketball coach at Oliver High School in Winchester, Kentucky from 1952 to 1954, winning a state championship in football in 1954.
    Gilliam joined coach John Merritt's coaching staff at Jackson State University in 1955 and left in 1957 to become head coach at Kentucky State University. After compiling a record of 2-13-1 at KSU, he coached briefly at the high school level before returning to Merritt's staff at Jackson State.
    He followed the legendary Merritt to Tennessee State University, where, as defensive coordinator, he helped the Tigers to four undefeated seasons and seven Black College National Titles in a 20-year span.
    Gilliam would serve as head coach at TSU from 1989 to 1992, earning Ohio Valley Conference Coach Of The Year honors in 1990. He is father of former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Joe Gilliam, and the grandfather of R&B singer Joi.
     
  3. HejiraHenry

    HejiraHenry Well-Known Member

    I sat in on a coaching clinic session once where he was talking about conditioning. The guy knew his sh*t.
     
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